The African Fashion Foundation (AFF) has launched the second edition of its African Fashion Futures Incubator (AFFI-II’25), a programme designed to nurture and accelerate the growth of Africa’s creative economy by supporting emerging and established fashion designers.
The incubator, unveiled in Accra on September 8, 2025, will provide financial, advisory, marketing, and logistical support to participants, while fostering peer learning, cultural exchange, and business development to help scale sustainable creative enterprises.
This year’s cohort brings together 15 designers from across Africa, including Ghana’s Bloombyedzi, Complex Department, and February by Serwaa, alongside brands from Kenya, Rwanda, Togo, Sierra Leone, Benin, and Nigeria.
As part of the programme, designers will showcase their collections on prestigious global stages, including ASOHOM and The Industry Retreat in October, LA Fashion Week, Ivory Coast in December, and London Fashion Week in February 2026, in partnership with Medusa Fashion House.
Founder of AFF, Roberta Annan, said the incubator is helping to build resilient enterprises capable of driving long-term value.
“Through AFFI-II’25, we are strengthening pathways for African creatives to thrive, while empowering local communities and inspiring diversity in the global creative economy,” she said.
The programme is delivered by the Impact Fund for African Creatives (IFFAC), supported by Annan Capital Partners, and in partnership with the Digital Fashion Academy (DFA), which specialises in digital and e-commerce education for fashion professionals.
DFA’s founder, Enrico Fantaguzzi, described the initiative as a step toward empowering Africa’s young entrepreneurs:
“Our partnership with AFFI goes beyond fashion; it’s about connecting them with best practices from leading global brands,” he said.
The global spotlight on the incubator will also feature collaborations with renowned artists, including Rwandan performer Malaika Uwamahoro, who will debut the official AFFI-II’25 theme song, and Australian photographer Robert Owen-Jones, who will document the designers’ works.
Partners such as UN Global Compact Network Ghana highlighted the incubator’s role in promoting sustainability. Its Executive Director, Tolu Kweku Lacroix, stressed that ethical sourcing and circular production in African fashion could advance jobs, protect the environment, and reshape the global fashion industry.
The African Fashion Foundation launched AFFI-II’25 during the #ACEL2025 forum in Kigali, spotlighting the continent’s rising design talents while unlocking opportunities for collaboration, investment, and cultural dialogue within Africa’s broader creative economy.
